Rodman on Bulls: 'Derrick can't win by himself'

August 11, 2011|By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- When Dennis Rodman returned to the United Center on May 18 to present the honorary game ball before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, he lauded Tom Thibodeau, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose and predicted a Bulls series victory over the Heat.

Thursday at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Rodman changed his tune, saving his strongest criticism for Carlos Boozer.

"Derrick can't win by himself," Rodman said. "That series was a bad situation with Tom Thibodeau. He should've done something about Rose and the other guys. Boozer should've stepped up big-time. Noah should've stepped up a lot.

"Derrick Rose is like Michael Jordan when he first came in the league. He's shooting the ball 25-30 times a game and trying to carry a team. It doesn't work that way. Until Scottie Pippen came and then you have John Paxson and Steve Kerr and Craig Hodges, you need those people who are going to have those intangibles for you."

Rodman pointed to Thibodeau sitting Boozer and Noah for fourth-quarter stretches of a series the Heat won in five games as an example. Boozer just finished the first year of a $75 million contract. Noah signed a $60 million extension before last season.

"When you pay someone $125 million dollars and you're not on the floor, that's a problem," Rodman said. "Boozer is a great guy. I love Boozer. I love Noah. But if you're getting paid that much money and you're sitting on the bench at the end of games, that is a big problem. They should've stepped up."